League Two leaders Wycombe dumped Fulham out of the League Cup by springing a huge surprise at Craven Cottage. Goals from Jermaine Easter and Tommy Mooney gave the Chairboys a famous win which their enterprise and endeavour fully merited.
Chris Coleman rung the changes following Sunday’s stalemate at Spurs but wouldn’t have expected some of his fringe and youth players to be quite so cowed by the challenge of taking on Paul Lambert’s men. The visitors stunned Craven Cottage when Michael Timlin lost possession in a dangerous area and Easter fired home from ten yards after Jan Lastukva had kept out Matt Bloomfield’s effort.
Fulham responded with Heidar Helguson going close twice in quick succession. First, he nodded over a great cross from Wayne Routledge and then saw his shot scrambled off the line by Vincent Fernandez. Tomasz Radzinski was denied by a great reaction save from Jamie Young before Wycombe went two up five minutes before the break. Carlos Bocanegra tripped Easter in the box and Mooney thumped home the penalty to the delight of the travelling contingent.
The home side no doubt had Coleman’s fury ringing their ears when they emerged for the second half and they halved the deficit within two minutes. Bjorn Runstrom’s deep cross was headed in by Helguson and Fulham threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser. Radzinski fired an effort just wide and Swedish striker Runstrom somehow spooned over an open goal as Wycombe clung to claim a famous victory.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Lastuvka; Volz, N. Jensen (Rosenior 65), Zakuani, Bocanegra (Omozusi 58); Timlin, C. Jensen, Routledge, Radzinski; Runstrom (John 78), Helguson. Subs (not used): Crossley, Collins.
BOOKED: Timlin, Runstrom.
GOAL: Helguson (47).
WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Young; Williamson, Antwi, Grant, Palmer (Doherty 72); Golbourne, Betsy, Bloomfield, Fernandez (Martin 61); Easter, Mooney (Dixon 89). Subs (not used): Gregory, Anya.
BOOKED Grant, Martin.
GOALS: Easter (8), Mooney (pen 41).
REFEREE: Andy Hall (West Midlands).
ATTENDANCE: 6,620.
